# Microsoft says China-aligned hackers spied on about 2,250 organizations

- Published: 2026-10-22T16:47:17.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T22:06:23.941Z
- Section: Market
- Topics: Security
- Page: https://aidailyjournal.com/en/n/2026/10/22/microsoft-says-china-aligned-hackers-spied-on-about-2-250-organizations/
- Sources: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/22/chinese-hackers-spied-on-thousands-of-companies-after-breaching-it-giant-connectwise)

## Summary

Microsoft security researchers say China state-aligned hackers breached ConnectWise’s cloud backup service and stole credentials used to connect it with corporate customers. Microsoft says the credentials allowed the group to access Microsoft-hosted environments as an authorized user, potentially viewing emails and other files at about 2,250 organizations. The attacks reached nearly 3,000 attempted sign-ins per minute, a speed the company says left defenders little time to detect and respond.

Microsoft attributed the rapid attacks to the use of AI agents, specifically ARTEX, an open-source framework for stress-testing cyber defenses. ConnectWise said it paused access to its cloud backup system, was investigating the breach and was working to restore the service.

## Why it matters (editorial interpretation)

The case highlights how a breach at a provider can quickly expand an attack’s reach to connected organizations. According to Microsoft, automation by AI agents also shortened the time defenders had to detect and respond.

_Summary written by AI Daily Journal in its own words, based on the sources above. For details, read the original articles._